FMS Initial Support Team - FIST

DISAM Journal, Summer, 2000 by Robert C. Marr

Background

FMS Initial Support Tracker (FIST) provides NAVAIR program managers, FMS customers, and supporting activity's logistics element managers (LEMs) with an integrated tracking system. FIST enables them to monitor spares, support equipment, and publications initial support requirements from requirements determination through delivery all linked together at the system configuration level. FIST is a windows based software application resident on the NAVICP LAN and the WEB within the FMS Information Warehouse. The French E-2 and the Spanish SH-60 programs currently are loaded into FIST as the initial test programs. The FMS Initial Support Tracker (FIST) was conceived by AIR-3.OC as a government-sponsored common program that will be used for all future NAVAIR FMS aviation programs. At the request of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and the Navy, the FIST capability is being developed into the new DoD level FMS tracking system Defense Security Assistance Management System.

To initialize FIST, the maintenance functional analysis (MFA) is loaded providing the weapons systems configuration with spares, major support equipment, and publications all tied together at the system level. The MFA is used by the FMS customer and NAVAIR with supporting logistics element managers to establish the FMS initial support requirements at the site survey. During the site survey, the Navy maintenance concept is tailored to meet the FMS customer country's unique requirements. Support items including spares and support equipment (SE) as well as publications, facilities, and training are selected based on tailored maintenance concepts and existing compatible FMS customer owned logistics assets. After the site survey, the MFA data, including all of the items applicable to each system within the aircrafts configuration, is loaded to FIST to provide the system structure for tracking logistics data system by system.

The chart on the next page reflects NAWC-AD providing support equipment, NAVICP spares, and NATEC publications data as the main sources of data to FIST. The spares, support equipment, and publications data is linked together through the system configuration data in FIST from the MFA. The FIST data is updated automatically by the Navy's Management Information System for International Logistics (MISIL) with estimated delivery/procurement/pricing/shipment status for all matching FMS requisitions.

Supporting or prime contractors often provide portions of the logistics data also as coordinated by the NAVAIR assistant program manager for losgistics. Additional status and explanatory data is loaded for requisitions by each responsible LEM as necessary.

A program database is created when NAVICP performs an initial batch upload of establishment records into FIST. These records are developed by NAVICP or by a program LEM (government or contractor) tasked with establishing the initial database. This database is part of the FIST system and is segregated from other program databases by country/case. Now established, the database is available for use within FIST and authorized users may update program data. FIST is initialized and updated by authorized LEMs assigned the responsibility for designated fields. Certain fields, such as program definition line item (PDLI), standard price and supply system status, can only be updated by MISIL. Fields assigned to the LEMs, for example, include work unit code, system nomenclature, part number, maintenance and supply data as well as tracking remarks. LEM updates can be accomplished via interactive web update on the internet or in a batch mode for initial load or subsequent updates. The data within FIST can be manipulated th rough interactive query as well as multiple standard reports and downloaded into most formats.

Info Warehouse/FIST, through the use of user ID/passwords, limits access to a country and case program database. Database integrity is maintained by FIST restricting record updates through the use of user ID/passwords and responsibility codes (RSP CD). The RSP CD a 3-position code identifying each command/contractor. The RSP CD is a mandatory field for establishing a data record in FIST. Additionally, FIST restricts record update authorization (add/update/delete actions) to named individuals within the responsible command/contractor by the use of RSP CD's in conjunction with an individual's User ID/Password. The APML is responsible for identifying to NAVJCP which individuals are assigned update authority and what record update actions they are allowed.

Capabilities

The following capabilities exist for all FIST users:

* Enhanced program management from requirements determination through material delivery

* Improved visibility of "due in" material for FMS customers

* Early identification and quicker resolutions of potential problems

* On-line interactive query/sort capability with sophisticated query build screen and custom reporting for viewing or downloading data. Download to most formats

* On-line interactive (add/update/delete) capability along with batch (add/update/delete) capability